Syringe



A. E. SMITH Jan. 26, 1954 SYRINGE Filed March 19, 1952 2 Mm y s IIIVIL Patented Jan. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a unitary syringe.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved, highly effective, disposable syringe.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a syringe wherein a recessed front member is employed as a needle support and wherein the recess is closed by a flexible rear member which is secured to the front member by novel means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel disposable syringe which includes a front member and a flexible rear member which is seated in the front member and is secured to the front member to form a chamber, and wherein a bead and matching groove are employed to complete a seal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a syringe including a front member and a flexible rear member and wherein the rear member has a groove permitting it to flex into the front member.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a syringe having a flexible rear member and wherein the rear member includes novel aspirating means and/or novel filling means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a syringe with a needle and with a wire member in the needle channel and wherein novel means is employed for connecting the wire to a cap about the needle.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel method of making a syringe.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing my improved syringe;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view, showing the syringe;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, showing the joint between the front and rear members;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the position taken after the contents of the syringe have been discharged;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, showing details of the needle wire;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, showing the means by which the syringe parts are united;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view showin the wire end, and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified joint.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I show a syringe embodying the features of my invention at In. As shown, the syringe includes a front member H and a rear member l2. The front member includes a body I3 which has a recess l4 defined by an inner Wall I5. The body includes a peripheral flange-i5 and a forwardly extending tip l which is tapered and includes spaced ribs |8 which afford strength while maintaining a relatively thin wall to facilitate curing.

A needle I9, arranged in the tip, extends into the body at 20 and may be provided with a curved portion 2| to prevent movement of the needle. The forward end 22 of the needle is sharpened. A closure cap 23 which surrounds the needle is hollow as at 24 and at its rear end 25 engages a reduced, tapered portion 26 on the tip H.

To prevent viscous material drying in the needle bore and thereby preventing injection of the ampule contents, I may insert a wire 21 in the needle bore. This wire may extend entirely through the needle and may project beyond the front end of the needle, where it is shown as bent at 28 at an acute angle to form a portion 29 which extends substantially across the bore of the needle. The tip of the wire is sheared as at 3|), thus leaving a sharp fin 3|.

When the wire is in the needle and the cap 23 is moved into position, the tip 3| will engage the wall of the cap. This will cause the needle to bend to the position shown in Fig. 5 and the resiliency of the needle will force the tip 3| against the cap. When movement of the cap is reversed the tip 3| will dig into the wall of the plastic cap 23, thus connecting the wire to the cap so that when the cap is removed the wire will also be removed.

The flange I6 includes a planar portion 30' which has a cylindrical rim 3| on the outer edge thereof. The flange I6 includes a groove 32.

The rear portion l2 of the syringe includes a flange 33 which has a planar portion 34 engaging the planar portion 30' of the front member flange. The flange 33 has a head 35 which fits in the groove 32 to effect a seal. The flange 33 has an outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the rim 3|.

In uniting the parts and effecting a seal the upper portion of the rim 3| is turned down as at 36 in Figs. 2 and 3 and pressure and heat are applied to a circular portion 3! so that a sealing action is secured at 38 and thus a tight seal is secured. The head 35, fitting in this groove, assists in maintaining the tight seal.

If desired, a peripheral, metallic or composition ring 35' may have its flanges 31 and 38' spun or stamped to engage the front and rear member flanges to further aid in holding the parts assembled.

The rear portion l2 of the syringe includes a body 38" from which a neck 39 projects. This neck is of an increased diameter outwardly so that the neck 39 affords a grasping means for allowing the rear member l2 to move towards and from the front member.

When the member I2 is moved forwardly an injecting effect is secured and when moved rearwardly an aspirating effect is secured.

The neck 39 has a hole 40 therein. This hole is closed by a diaphragm M which is pierceable and is so constructed that a filling needle may be inserted through the diaphragm. In this way a medicament M may be placed in the syringe cavity. When the filling is completed the needle may be withdrawn and the hole 4| will be closed by the resiliency of the material.

In order to assure that all the contents of the ampule may be discharged and to cause the rear portion I2 to engage the inner wall l5 of the front member, I provide a peripheral V-groove 42 in the rear member. This groove faces outwardly and is located at the juncture of the front and rear members and forms a hinge line so that when the rear member moves forwardly as shown in Fig. 4 this rear member will flex within the groove 42 to allow complete discharge of the ampule contents.

In making my improved syringe I may insert the pre-formed front member I I in the cavity '56 of a support 5|. The support may include a flange 52. The flange 52 causes the rim 3| to assume the position shown in Fig. 6, where it engages the edge of the flange 33 on the rear member l2. The rim 3 I is then folded from the broken line position in Fig. 6 to the full line position, where it is engaged by a sealing member 53 which may have a suitable heating element 54 therein. The member 53 includes a downwardly projecting bead 55 which is forced into the material of the flange 33, thus causing a slight deformation in the flange 33. This forms a seal which may be reinforced by the groove 32 and bead 35 and the seal may be further strengthened by the ring 36'.

My syringe may be made of suitable material such as natural rubber, artificial rubber, polyethylene or suitable plastic material.

In making the syringe the parts are preferably assembled by my improved method as described above and the syringe is filled by inserting a filling needle through the diaphragm 4!. A wire 21 may be inserted in the needle IS. The cap 23 is then moved to position, causing the parts 28 and 28 of the wire to move into the cap until the cap is seated upon the reduced portion 26. The syringe is then ready for shipment and use.

In use, after the syringe has been filled, the operator will remove the cap 23, thus withdrawing the wire 21 from the needle l4 to place the syringe in condition for use. The injection will then be made and slight forward pressure will be placed upon the neck 39 so that some of the contents of the syringe will be discharged. The neck 39 will then be pulled rearwardly to produce an aspirating effect and if the needle has been inserted in a blood vessel, blood will appear in the recess within the syringe and will be visible when the front member is made of transparent or translucent material such as polyethylene through the transparent wall of the syringe, thus enabling the operator to remove the needle and make a fresh injection.

If the needle has been properly located, the neck 39 will be pushed inwardly until the parts 4 assume the position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon full discharge will have been made.

In Fig. 8 I show a modified joint wherein parts similar to those previously described are designated by single primed reference characters. In the modification the front member ll may be made of Lucite (methyl methacrylate) and the rear member 12' may be made of rubber. A sealing band 60, also of Lucite, may be arranged upon the end of the syringe and may include a flange arranged on the body 6|. engages the flange 33 to effect a seal and, to hold the parts together, a flange B2 on the sealing band 68 may be secured to the periphery of the flange l6 by suitable adhesive or by use of the monomeric form of methyl methacrylate to form a seal at 63.

From the foregoing description parent that I have invented a novel syringe, which is simple in construction, may be readily made and filled, and which is highly efflcient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A syringe including a front member and a rear member, the front member including a body having a cupped portion and a flange about the cupped portion, said body including a needle communicating with the cupped portion and project ing beyond the front member, said rear member including a cupped portion coaxial with the front member, said rear member having a flange engaging said front member flange, means uniting said flanges, said rear member having an outwardly opening circular slot substantially aligned with the inner edge of the flange thereon, said rear member being flexible and depressible, said front member having a tapered forward end, and a cap releasably engaging said forward end and surrounding said needle.

2. A syringe including a front member and a rear member, the front member including a body having a cupped portion and having a needle communicating with the cupped portion and projecting beyond the front member, said rear member including a cupped portion, and means uniting said cupped portions, said rear member being flexible and depressible, said rear member having a projection extending rearwardly therefrom, said projection having a hole therein, a pierceable diaphragm closing said hole.

3. A syringe including a front member and a rear member, the front member including a body having a cupped portion and having a flange about the cupped portion, said body including a needle communicating with the cupped portion and projecting beyond the front member, said rear member including a cupped portion coaxial with the front member, said rear member having a flange engaging said front member flange, means uniting said flanges, said rear member being flexible and depressible, said rear member having a projection extending rearwardly therefrom, said projection having a hole therein, a pierceable diaphragm closing said hole, said front member having a tapered forward end, and a cap releasably engaging said forward end and surrounding said needle.

4. A syringe including a front and a rear portion spaced apart to form a chamber, said front portion including a needle communicating with the chamber and projecting beyond the front portion, a cap releasably engaging the front portion, said cap being hollow and surrounding said needle, a wire disposed within said needle and including a forward free end projecting beyond it will be ap- The body 6i tightly the front end of the needle, said wire being resilient and having the extreme free end thereof bent into direct engagement with the interior of the needle cap, the needle being resilient and forcing the bent end of the wire against the inner wall of the cap so that it may be removed with the cap.

5. A syringe including a front and a rear portion spaced apart to form a chamber, said front portion including a needle communicating with the chamber and projecting beyond the front portion, a cap releasably engaging the front portion, said cap being hollow and surrounding said needle, a wire disposed within said needle and including a forward free end projecting beyond the front end of the needle, said wire being resilient and having the extreme free end thereof bent laterally and directly engaging the inner wall of the needle cap, the extremity of said wire being sharpened and frictionally engaging the inner wall of the cap so that it may be removed with the cap.

6. A disposable syringe including a front member and a rear member, said front member including a body having a tapered forward portion, a needle carried by said body, said front member body having an external peripheral flange at the rear end thereof, said body having a recess therein, said rear member being made of flexible material and including a body having an external flange, the flanges being engaged, one of said flanges having a bead and the other flange having a groove securing the bead, means holding the flanges. together, said rear member having a recess complemental to the recess of said front member, said two recesses forming a solution-receiving chamber, said needle communicating with said chamber.

7. A syringe including a front member and a rear member, the front member including a body having a cupped portion and a flange about the cupped portion, said flange having a rear face, said body including a needle communicating with the cupped portion and projecting beyond the front member, said rear member including a cupped portion coaxial with the front member and providing a chamber, said rear member having a flange engaging said front member rear face, means uniting said flanges, said rear member having an outwardly opening circular hinge forming slot substantially aligned with the inner edge of the planar portion thereon, said rear member being flexible and depressible to decrease the volume of the chamber, said rear member having a projection extending rearwardly therefrom, said projection having a filling hole therein, and a pierceable diaphragm closing said hole.

8. A syringe including a front member and a rear member, the front member including a body having a cupped portion and a flange about the cupped portion, said flange having a planar rear face, said body including a needle communicating with the cupped portion and projecting beyond the front member, said rear member including a cupped portion coaxial with the front member, said rear member having a flange with a planar front portion engaging said front member planar portion, means uniting said flanges, said rear member being flexible and depressible, said rear member having a projection extending rearwardly therefrom, said projection having a filling hole therein, a pierceable diaphragm closing said hole, said front member having a tapered forward end, a cap on said forward end and surrounding said needle, a wire disposed within said needle and including a forward portion projecting from the front end of the needle, said wire being resilient and having the extreme free end thereof bent laterally to engage the interior of the needle cap, the extremity of said wire being sharpened to frictionally engage the inner Wall of the cap so that it may be removed with the cap.

9. A syringe including a front member and a rear member, the front member including a body having a cupped portion and a flange about the cupped portion, said flange having a rear face, said body including a needle communicating with the cupped portion and projecting beyond the front member, said rear member including a cupped portion coaxial with the front member, said rear member having a flange with a planar front face engaging said front member rear face, one of the planar portions having a groove and the other planar portion having a bead fitting the groove, means uniting said flanges, said rear member having an outwardly opening circular hinge forming slot substantially aligned with the inner edge of the planar portion thereon, said rear member being flexible and depressible, said rear member having a projection extending rearwardly therefrom, said projection having a filling hole therein and a pierceable diaphragm closing said hole.

10. A syringe including a front member and a rear member, the front member including a body having a cupped portion and a flange about the cupped portion, said flange having a planar rear face, said body including a needle communicating with the cupped portion and projecting beyond the front member, said rear member including a cupped portion coaxial with the front member, said rear member having a flange with a planar front face engaging said front member planar face, one of the planar portions having a groove and the other planar portion having a bead fitting the groove, means uniting said flanges, said rear member having an outwardly opening circular hinge forming slot substantially aligned with the inner edge of the planar portion thereon, said rear member being flexible and depressible, said rear member having a projection extending rearwardly therefrom, said projection having a filling hole therein, a pierceable diaphragm closing said hole, said front member having a tapered forward end, a cap releasably engaging said forward end, said cap being hollow and surrounding said needle, a wire disposed within said needle and including a forward free end projecting beyond the front end of the needle, said wire being resilient and having the extreme free end thereof bent laterally to engage the interior of the needle cap, the extremity of said wire being sharpened to frictionally engage the inner wall of the cap so that it may be removed with the cap.

ARTHUR E. SMITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 388,029 Dunn Aug. 21, 1888 445,813 Leisenring Feb. 3, 1891 1,146,523 Roberts July 13, 1915 1,288,174 Pittenger Dec. 17, 1918 1,338,386 McEntire Apr. 27, 1920 1,378,523 Cigol May 17, 1921 1,961,489 Hein June 5, 1934 2,550,394 Young et a1 Apr. 24, 1951 

